Mathematical modeling of retinal mosaic formation by mechanical interactions and dendritic overlap

The retina is a complex assembly of neurons packed into a three-layer structure containing five classes of cells. Each class of retinal cells is regularly arranged within its layer in an orderly configuration called the retinal mosaic. We have set up a mathematical model of retinal mosaic formation focusing on the actions of local mechanical forces on the neuron's cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton has been modeled according to two approaches, one based on the tensegrity concept (a structure made of elastic and rigid elements), and the other based on a simple model with viscoelastic features. We have assumed causing deformation of their cytoskeleton, overlap of dendritic areas and movement of the neuron. Simulations based on these two models indicate that a random distribution of neurons reaches an orderly configuration by local and mechanical neuron interaction in the case in which the cytoskeleton is modeled using the tensegrity approach, but not when the neuron is modeled as a purely viscoelastic system. Considering that the main structural difference between the Maxwell model and the tensegrity model is that the latter model contains rigid elements whereas the former does not, this suggests that the presence of rigid components in the cytoskeleton of retinal neurons plays a key role in the formation processes of the retinal mosaic.     

Measurement of the optical parameters of the Virgo interferometer

The Virgo interferometer, aimed at detecting gravitational waves, is now in a commissioning phase. Measurements of its optical properties are needed for the understanding of the instrument. We present the techniques developed for the measurement of the optical parameters of Virgo. These parameters are compared with the Virgo specifications.     

Case study of the sonochemical decolouration of textile azo dye Reactive Black 5

The decolouration and mineralization of reactive dye C.I. Reactive Black 5, a well-known representative of non-biodegradable azo dyes, by means of ultrasonic irradiation at 20, 279 and 817kHz has been investigated with emphasis on the effect of various parameters on decolouration and degradation efficiency. Characterization of the used ultrasound systems was performed using calorimetric measurements and oxidative species monitoring using Fricke and iodine dosimeter. Experiments were carried out with low frequency probe type, and a high-frequency plate type transducer at 50, 100 and 150W of acoustic power and within the 5-300mg/L initial dye concentration range. Decolouration, as well as radical production, increased with increasing frequency, acoustic power, and irradiation time. Any increase in initial dye concentration results in decreased decolouration rates. Sonochemical decolouration was substantially depressed by the addition of 2-methyl-2-propanol as a radical scavenger, which suggests radical-induced reactions in the solution. Acute toxicity to marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was tested before and after ultrasound irradiation. Under the conditions employed in this study, no toxic compounds were detected after 6h of irradiation. Mineralization of the dye was followed by TOC measurements. Relatively low degradation efficiency (50% after 6h of treatment) indicates that ultrasound is rather inefficient in overall degradation, when used alone.     

Heme-copper/dioxygen adduct formation, properties, and reactivity

This Account focuses on our recent developments in synthetic heme/copper/O 2 chemistry, potentially relevant to the mechanism of action of heme-copper oxidases (e.g., cytochrome c oxidase) and to dioxygen activation chemistry. Methods for the generation of O 2 adducts, which are high-spin heme(Fe (III))-peroxo-Cu (II) complexes, are described, along with a detailed structural/electronic characterization of one example. The coordination mode of the O 2-derived heme-Cu bridging group depends upon the copper-ligand environment, resulting in micro-(O 2 (2-)) side-on to Fe (III) and end-on to Cu (II) (micro-eta (2):eta (1)) binding for cases having N 4 tetradentate ligands but side-on/side-on (micro-eta (2):eta (2)) micro-peroxo coordination with tridentate copper chelates. The dynamics of the generation of Fe (III)-(O 2 (2-))-Cu (II) complexes are known in some cases, including the initial formation of a short-lived superoxo (heme)Fe (III)(O 2 -) intermediate. Complexes with cross-linked imidazole-phenol "cofactors" adjacent to the copper centers have also been described. Essential investigations of heme-copper-mediated reductive O-O bond cleavage chemistry are ongoing.     

Electron transfer from a solid-state electrode assisted by methyl viologen sustains efficient microbial reductive dechlorination of TCE

The ability to transfer electrons, via an extracellular path, to solid surfaces is typically exploited by microorganisms which use insoluble electron acceptors, such as iron-or manganese-oxides or inert electrodes in microbial fuel cells. The reverse process, i.e., the use of solid surfaces or electrodes as electron donors in microbial respirations, although largely unexplored, could potentially have important environmental applications, particularly for the removal of oxidized pollutants from contaminated groundwater or waste streams. Here we show, for the first time, that an electrochemical cell with a solid-state electrode polarized at -500 mV (vs standard hydrogen electrode), in combination with a low-potential redox mediator (methyl viologen), can efficiently transfer electrochemical reducing equivalents to microorganisms which respire using chlorinated solvents. By this approach, the reductive transformation of trichloroethene, a toxic yet common groundwater contaminant, to harmless end-products such as ethene and ethane could be performed. Furthermore, using a methyl-viologen-modified electrode we could even demonstrate that dechlorinating bacteria were able to accept reducing equivalents directly from the modified electrode surface. The innovative concept, based on the stimulation of dechlorination reactions through the use of solid-state electrodes (we propose for this process the acronym BEARD: Bio-Electrochemically Assisted Reductive Dechlorination), holds promise for in situ bioremediation of chlorinated-solvent-contaminated groundwater, and has several potential advantages over traditional approaches based on the subsurface injection of organic compounds. The results of this study raise the possibility that immobilization of selected redox mediators may be a general strategy for stimulating and controlling a range of microbial reactions using insoluble electrodes as electron donors.     

High-resolution Orbitrap™-based mass spectrometry for rapid detection of peanuts in nuts

Peanut represents one of the most harmful allergenic foods capable of triggering severe and sometimes lethal reactions in allergic consumers upon ingestion of even small amounts. Several proteins capable of inducing allergic reactions that have been recognised by patients’ IgE antibodies have been identified from this nut source. Methods mainly based on ELISA assays have been developed in order to detect peanuts in several food commodities. In addition LC-MS/MS methods based on different mass analysers have also been devised for tracing peanut contamination in different foods achieving low limits of detection. The applicability of a benchtop high-resolution Exactive? mass spectrometer has never been investigated for the rapid screening of peanut contamination in complex food matrices like mixtures of nuts. We report in this paper the design of suitable peanut markers and the development of an high-resolution Orbitrap? mass spectrometer-based method for peanut detection in a mixture of nuts species. With this aim, different types of samples were prepared: (1) nuts-based powder made up of a mixture of hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds and walnuts; and (2) nuts powder fortified with peanuts. Different levels of fortifications were produced and the applicability of the method was tested. Finally, a subset of six peptides fulfilling specific analytical requirements was chosen to check the suitability of the method tailored to the detection of peanuts in nuts-based products, and two of them, peptides VYD and WLG, were selected as quantitative markers. The method proved to be a suitable screening tool to assess the presence of traces of peanuts in other tree nuts with a limit of detection as low as 4 µg of peanuts proteins or 26 µg of peanuts in 1 g of matrix.     

Bioinspired Tunable Lens with Muscle‐Like Electroactive Elastomers

Optical lenses with tunable focus are needed in several fields of application, such as consumer electronics, medical diagnostics and optical communications. To address this need, lenses made of smart materials able to respond to mechanical, magnetic, optical, thermal, chemical, electrical or electrochemical stimuli are intensively studied. Here, we report on an electrically tunable lens made of dielectric elastomers, an emerging class of “artificial muscle” materials for actuation. The optical device is inspired by the architecture of the crystalline lens and ciliary muscle of the human eye. It consists of a fluid‐filled elastomeric lens integrated with an annular elastomeric actuator working as an artificial muscle. Upon electrical activation, the artificial muscle deforms the lens, so that a relative variation of focal length comparable to that of the human lens is demonstrated. The device combined optical performance with compact size, low weight, fast and silent operation, shock tolerance, no overheating, low power consumption, and possibility of implementation with inexpensive off‐the‐shelf elastomers. Results show that combing bioinspired design with the unique properties of dielectric elastomers as artificial muscle transducers has the potential to open new perspectives on tunable optics.     

Hydrophobin as a Nanolayer Primer That Enables the Fluorinated Coating of Poorly Reactive Polymer Surfaces

A new and simple method is presented to fluorinate the surfaces of poorly reactive hydrophobic polymers in a more environmentally friendly way using the protein hydrophobin (HFBII) as a nanosized primer layer. In particular, HFBII, via electrostatic interactions, enables the otherwise inefficient binding of a phosphate‐terminated perfluoropolyether onto polystyrene, polypropylene, and low‐density polyethylene surfaces. The binding between HFBII and the perfluoropolyether depends significantly on the environmental pH, reaching the maximum stability at pH 4. Upon treatment, the polymeric surfaces mostly retain their hydrophobic character but also acquire remarkable oil repellency, which is not observed in the absence of the protein primer. The functionalization proceeds rapidly and spontaneously at room temperature in aqueous solutions without requiring energy‐intensive procedures, such as plasma or irradiation treatments.     

Considerations on CDMA–OFDM System Performances in Different Channel Environments for Different Modulation and Coding Scenarios

This paper presents a number of results obtained based on a CDMA–OFDM simulator developed in Matlab. The simulator has been extended to accommodate in a flexible manner to different modulation schemes, multiple access techniques, spreading codes types and lengths, convolutional codes rates, number of users and types of channels. The performances are evaluated and compared based on the Bit Error Rate (BER) as a function of the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) results achieved in different scenarios. In this paper are presented the results obtained by the developed simulator for two types of spreading codes—perfectly orthogonal Walsh type codes versus pseudo-orthogonal Gold type codes. The performances are evaluated in different channel environments the classical AWGN, pedestrian, vehicular and indoor ITU-R M.1225 models, for BPSK and QPSK modulations and 1/2 respectively 3/4 rate channel coding. Furthermore, since the results shown that the Gold spreading codes, QPSK modulation and 1/2 rate coding achieves the best performances in all type of channels analyzed, the authors investigate the effect of the code length and of the number of users on these results.     

Genipin‐cross‐linked chitosan‐based hydrogels: Reaction kinetics and structure‐related characteristics

The main aim of this work is the synthesis and characterization of cross‐linked chitosan systems. Chitosan hydrogels can be prepared by physical or chemical cross‐linking of polymer chains. Chemical cross‐linking, leading to the creation of hydrogel networks possessing improved mechanical properties and chemical stability, can be achieved using either synthetic agents or natural‐based agents. In this work, the cross‐linker Genipin, a naturally derived compound, was selected because of the lower acute toxicity compared to many other commonly used synthetic cross‐linking reagents. In particular, the chemical stabilization of chitosan through genipin cross‐linking molecules was performed and characterized by calorimetric analyses (differential scanning calorimetry), swelling measurements in different pHs, and ionic strength. The reaction kinetics was carried out by means of rheological measurements, and both the activation energy (E_a) and the reaction order (m) were calculated. The hydrogel analyses were carried out at different concentrations of genipin (GN1 and GN2). The results were used to evaluate the possibility to use the chemical cross‐linked chitosan–genipin hydrogel for biomedical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42256.